The 046 - FREE UP (ft. MLBRN)
The 046 are back again within a few weeks of their last drop on a complete different sound from the "West Coast" feel their last track has, still teaming up with DJ Sefru who brings his talents on mixing and mastering, this track is produced by Slade Beats and Sammy Heat. The main difference that can be noticed is it's a very 'MLBRN' kind of beat which shows the guys from The 046 versatility to perform on different tempo's and styles. Starting with what sounds like an interview by a police officer who actually calls anyone involved with The 046 "shit heads" we go straight into a pre verse hook answering the police in a way by saying free everyone that's been locked up. The verses start very drill like as you would maybe suspect but rather less hardcore drill visuals of a B&E and a well timed KRS1 sample follows talk of only running if its from the police, this makes way for MLBRN to join in who immediately goes at people in his own neighbourhood. whether I'm right or wrong i did think he was maybe going at Real Ren whom he is known to have beef with and is from the same area by saying that he is the only one living what is said on a track. MLBRN does actually have more of a sinister feel to his verse when talking about how he's on bail for not snitching, a quite funny line about how he gives opps and police hell on the field so he isn't surprised when he gets sent off the the bin (Jail) but what got me is how he talks about how he would die for his kin whilst other guys are breaking bread with their opp, finishing off with how its sweet it is when he gets locked up cos all his hood is locked up anyway pushes the knife in abit further. Full gas no breaks is definitely the case for the third verse and Herbert Leota has captured everything perfectly in the directing of this, in fact it almost mirrors the bars being spit, all about making gains whether it is yours or not to begin with and how you've just to look an opp on the eyes and never back down no matter what, the visuals mimic it by showing what can only be described as an armed robbery where a few guys are taken by surprise and all their stash and cash is stolen "no hand outs, get whatever you take" is literally what is happening. as we are watching the visuals we are getting told that basically you either have it or you don't in this game, if you don't have the bottle to put the knife to someone's throat, you wont survive yourself. The final verse just puts the final nail in the coffin for the police in what can be seen as a big fuck you to them, a little play on bible verses as he's a born sinner and basically the cops are infatuated by him, following and wanting to lock him up like he's public enemy number 1. One quite hidden bar is pretty easy in a way and its all about tellin people the had better show some love by double tappin on the gram. A great way to end the track is the burning of evidence. One of the best tracks of the week in my opinion.
Brisbang Bandit- 4 Tha Block ft Say TrueGod
This track turns everything on its head. Everything we have come to think is normal about 'drill' has just been broken. All by one track. We all know there are a lot of fabrications in music especially the drill scene and is a couple of verses Brisbang Bandit has exploited it all. Starting with a very Big Kash sounding "Gang gang, gang gang" this one is in the feel of something it shouldn't really be in. Taking absolutely nothing away from these guys this can only be described as 'a sheep in a wolfs clothing' and i hope that is looked at as a compliment, the reason being, this has all the feel of a drill/ gangster rap track with absolutely none of the illegal activities that we have come accustom to expect in that genre "its the young kid from the North, that dancer with the groove, don't do drugs nor do i sell them, yet I'm out here making moves" is just one of many lines that goes against the grain and in a certain way shows a little disrespect to a lot of artists. The whole feel in my opinion is a stand and a message to prove that you don't have to be flippin packs or running through a trap house with a gun to make good music which he makes a few jokes aimed at himself about by pretending he grips guns then quickly telling the truth that he never has, its also in a big way inspirational, especially for 'lost youth' who can look at what can be achieved. People might say, oh he's just a dancer but he's making a very good living from it, a living which wont be the reason he ends up in prison or worse. That's not to say he or they in fact would back down if anything did ever happen, actively reppin the 4K whom have brought us some very good artists in fact he quotes Lisi's Say Less when referring to rappers saying they are doing things they aren't. The fact that he's saying all this and I'm not going to lie this shit sounds pretty damn good kinda of gives it a parody feel but if you look at what he's saying even his cheat code combos he's both making light of what people are saying and like I've mentioned proving to make music you don't have to be in that life, not only is he rappin he's dancing on the beat. Say Truegod brings us the same kinda vibes calling the artists that fabricate just gimmicks, the fact that he lives what they speak and when push comes to shove all the chatters out there turn to runners! If it came to it Say TrueGod goes at if the guys had to swear on what they did there's not many that could. This is all about fabrication. Some nice dance moves all the way through by Bloodline Dance Company. I like the feel to this, consistent throughout. Bring on the next.
Radistarz - Trap Famous
Lets just get this out of the way first, this is the first time on hearing Radistarz and within the first few minutes of it starting and noticing the few people that are hanging around the video shoot (Spenny, J-Emz - later noticing Kaputlet whilst editing) it grabbed my attention alot more. That's certainly taking nothing away from Radistarz, as soon as he started on the track you can see why he has some of the biggest names in Australian producing (Willstah and Solo) working along side him, this kids got some talent. We have spoken about noticing who is in the video but listening back on this now, the intro for me has a very OneFour Home and Away sound to it then has one of the most catchy hooks ive heard so far in a year of great hooks, literally surrounding himself in like minded people and gang life he's made a name for himself thus becoming Trap Famous. Giving the listener a raw insight of gang and drug dealer life (flipping packs, re-ing up) and the downside that comes with it in prison sentences and violence, the fact that when a black car pulls up something is either going to kick off or people back down. The second verse which has actually got a few mentions in my comments is aimed directly at opps and guys that cant take care of their girl, financially or in the bedroom, Radistarz doesnt mix his words when he talks about what he would do to her and the fact that there's basically nothing that you can do about it as its her that's instigating it all! I think the directors and editors involved (Maxedoutfilms, benji.b, Aaron Bull and Skylakemedia) have done a great job at capturing personal life including Radistarz family and the people he actually surrounds himself with, amongst showing how much cash he splashes or has the ability to splash. A great first listen to this young artist and I look forward to future releases.
RENZI - Hold Tight
One of the best written and directed drops of the week comes from Renzi, but trust me when i say this track is criminally underrated. Coming from the point of view of someone watching things unfold this isn't about the artist saying he's doing things or making moves or even fabricating their life for clout, this is a raw look at what actually happens in everyday life which i think is a great concept. Starting with one of the greatest poems I think has ever been written about built up tension and justice while activities are getting played out in the visuals. Mirroring the lyrics throughout this one is about the struggles to literally live and get by, the things we see individuals do or crimes they have to commit just to pay the bills or put food in their mouths. The story is told about a mother and son whom after a lot of struggle are hoping they will catch a break in life, but in reality we know life isn't a fairy tale and in the end up the lad ends up catching a case and locked up. Renzi sets this out as an outsider looking in but also has a personal touch to it as he keeps adding in lines that makes us feel that he is connected to the individual with lines such as "told my brother I've got him til our souls leave" the subdued way this is delivered to us in a way is touching, especially if your life has ever been touched by anything like this. The second verse has some of the most powerful lines I've heard in a while and sobers you up to the reality of life "The bro knows his days are numbered, If feds come knocking, he ain't ducking under covers, You can't hide from the monsters or run away from the past, Karma catches up, you can bet that the bitch runs fast." A play on hiding under the covers like what you did as a child when you wanted a bad situation to go away, or the fact the karma really is a bitch is not only spoken in word but the visuals of seeing the mother alone in a greying scene makes the heaviness of life even worse, from struggling together the mother is now left struggling alone. this really is a heart breaking and touching story. The way it touched me was personal as my childhood had a lot of ups and downs, family members lost their lives due to drugs and street life, my brother although is still alive has in a way lost his life due to drugs, he's now in his 40's and is homeless but as a late teen and into his early 20's had great prospects in life. Karma caught up to him and the rest of our family as it brought a lot of trouble and dark times. This is a great track, its not just a track its a perfect telling and visual of many peoples lives.
ROPS1 - NO CAP
Another week another massive drop my Rops1 who has quickly become one of my favourite artists, I first jumped on his stuff in 2020 and he is showing little sign in slowing down the momentum he has gained. On a track produced by DTonthaTRACK that's been mixed by MRVLS Rops from the first word comes at us with his quick straight to the point flow, questioning how people are saying how he has took any losses this year I have to agree with him that everything he has touched has been a hit whilst everyone else is out there lying and fabricating what they've achieved and what they actually do out on the streets. In his unrelenting bars that sometimes seems that he doesn't need to breathe he takes us through a story of change, how he came from washing his clothes in the sink to have the newest of styles and drips, how he has come from being relatively unknown doing one takes to selling out shows with a dedicated growing fan base. I don't personally know if Rops does what he says he does, but he certainly hates the fact that a lot of guys make stuff up for views and that's mainly what this track is about, he shows a lot of hate for people that use internet beef and fabrications to try get famous whilst he has been and is still out there in the trenches, not only out there doing that but making music and making your top 5 MC's look insuperior to him whilst making these tracks. Just when you think he has come to the end of a verse he goes again giving the listener no rest at all, infact this track sounds like one complete verse with no let up, giving us an insight on the facts he has been caught and is on pending charges, his mates that have been locked up or the fact he has been doing Break and Entering at a young age gives a unrelenting view of real life, and how fragile life is, the fact that you could be killed over a simple debt. Filmed by ShotbyEstevan it kind of gives 2 views of life depending on how you look at it, one view is just lads having fun on dirt bikes, another view is a little more sinister and fits in with some lyrics which can give the watcher a feel of a street gang literally ruling the streets and patrolling their territory. Rops has a massive future and I for one admire the talent he has, the fact he found his talent in writing and his delivery and hope for more very soon.